Electrical cable connector



y 31, 1955 c. E. WILLIAMS 2,709,795

ELECTRICAL CABLE CONNECTOR Filed May 1 195] 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 21 I I J {LINVENTOR. imx n. ILLIJRMS y 31, 1955 c. E. WILLIAMS ELECTRICAL CABLECONNECTOR 3 S heetsSheet 2 Filed Ray 1, 1951 FIG. 2.

IN VEN TOR.

May 3 1955 c. E. WILLIAMS 2,709,795

ELECTRICAL CABLE CONNECTOR Filed May 1 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 NVENTO Thisinvention relates to electrical connectors and, more particularly, toconnectors for use in electrical equipment employing heavy current, suchas power transformers, welding machines and the like.

In electrical equipment designed for heavy current,

it is important in connecting two conductors or electric cables togetherthat not only a good electrical connection be established between thembut also that no separation of electrical connecting parts materializeswhich would result in an electrical are being formed. Accordingly, it isimportant that vibrations of the equipment, incidental to their use orfrom other causes, do not so loosen the electrical connection that suchan are forms or the electrical contact between the conductors beimpaired otherwise.

In certain types of electrical equipment employing high or heavycurrent, the places where electrical connection between conductors isdesired to be made is frequently not freely accessible, with the resultthat it is difiicult to make the electrical connections at those placesin a permanent manner.

Accordingly, a principal object of this invention is to provide anelectrical connector adapted for use with electrical conductors havinghigh current carrying capacity and which connector is simple, compactand of relatively small size and with which two electrical conductors inhigh voltage electrical equipment can be connected together easily andconvenientl} to establish a thorough and permanent electrical connectionbetween the two conductors and which, when installed, retains thethorough electrical connection permanently and resists becoming out ofadjustment as a result of vibrations or other shocks or temperaturechanges.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical connectorespecially well suited for use as a tap changer connector in electricalpower transformers, power welding machines and other heavy currentelectrical equipment.

Further objects of this invention include the provision of an electricalconnector of the character de-' scribed which is an improvement overelectrical connectors of this type heretofore known, in that, itprovides greater and cleaner electrical contact making surfaces, reducesweight and size as well as cost of manufacture, affords ease ofinstallation at places which are not readily accessible and has moreflexible and easier adjustability to meet different conditionsencountered and to meet various sizes of cables, tap connector studs,and the like; the objects of the invention also including the provisionof a connector of the character referred to and which comprises aminimum number of parts which are interchangeable to meet difierentconditions, and which can be assembled and disassembled easily andquickly and when assembled yields a more efficient assembly in allrespects.

Other objects of this invention will be in part obvious and in partpointed out hereinafter.

in accordance with this invention, the connector innited States Patentcludes two separable complementary parts or sections, each adapted tohave an end of a conductor electrically fixed thereto as by welding,clamping or the like. Both of the connector parts are of conductingmaterial and are adapted to have parts placed in juxtaposition andtightly clamped together face to face by means of a bolt, screw or thelike; the two parts having complementary beveled surfaces so that, whenthe parts are tightened against each other, these beveled surfaces willwipe over each other and scrape off and clean the surfaces of any metaloxide that may be present thereon and establish a perfect electricalcontact between these surfaces of the two parts of the connector. At thesame time, the pressure of the bolting means will establish a resilientpressure between these contacting surfaces of the two connector partsand insure the permanent maintenance of the thorough electrical contactbetween them. Furthermore, each of the two parts of the connector areprovided with means thereon-which may or may not be the beveled surfacesabove referred tothat co-act, when the two parts are assembled together,to positively prevent the two parts of the connector from becoming outof alignment with each other. The two parts of the connector are adaptedto'be so related that it is comparatively easy to install them at thedesired place in electrical equipment and to tighten the bolt means totightly bind the parts together even when the installation is being madeat a place which is diflicult of access.

The invention accordingly consists in the combination of elements,arrangements of parts and features of construction which will be moreclearly set forth hereinafter and the scope of the application of whichwill be set forth in the claims that follow.

In order that a clearer understanding of this invention will be hadattention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings forming a partof this application and illustrating certain possible embodiments ofthisinvention and in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatical outline of an electrical transformershowing therein certain installations of electrical connectors embodyingthis invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the two parts or sections of anelectrical connector embodying this invention shown separated from eachother and each having the end of a conductor or cable aifixed thereto;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the same two parts shown secured together ininstalled position;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the same;

Figure 5 is a sectional view thereof and is taken on the line 5-5 ofFigure 4; t

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the end of one of the connector partshaving a bolt receiving slot therethrough and a separate washer elementhaving a circular bolt hole therethrough adapted to be placed over thesaid end and slot of the other connector part;

Figure 7 is a plan view of an assembled connector including the partsshown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 2 but shows one of the connectorparts equipped with a clamp adapted to receive and electrically engagethe threaded end of a connector tap stud;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the same;

Figure 10 is a sectional view and is taken on the line 10-40 of Figure9;

v Figure 11 is a plan view of the connector part which has the conductorclamp;

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the overlapping ends of the twoconnector parts showing them secured together by means of a machinescrew; and

Figure 13 is a similar view showing the two parts secured together bymeans of a bolt.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings and in Figure 2 thereof, the connectorembodying this invention is shown to comprise two separable parts orsections 2% and 21, each having a simple geometric configuration, beingsubstantially rectangular in shape. From one end 22 to about the middleof the part 20, the upper edges of the piece are beveled or chamferedforming along the sides of the piece outwardly facing beveled surfaces23. An upwardly extending threaded stud or bolt 24 is carried on thesection toward its front end 22 and an electrical connector C is adaptedto be electrically fastened to member 20 toward its rear end 25, eitherto the top surface or the undersurface thereof as may be required or ismost desirable.

The opposite sides of the part 21, from its front end 26 to aboutmid-way of its length, is formed with depending or lateral flanges 2'7and the inner surface of each flange 27 is formed with an inwardlyfacing beveled surface 28 complementary to the beveled surfaces 23 ofthe part 26 There is also a bore 2% formed through the body of the part21 and through which the stud 24 of the part 2%) is adapted to extendwhen the front end of the connector part 21 is placed over the front endof the connector part 2%). The rear end of the part 21 is adapted tohave the end of a conductor C electrically fastened thereto, as byWelding or the like, either to the upper surface or to the lower surfacethereof.

The threaded stud 24 of connector part Ztl may be formed integrallytherewith or, as shown in Fig. 5, may comprise a stud 3% having areduced threaded lower end 31 adapted to be screwed into a threaded bore32 formed in the connector part 2i and having an enlarged upper end 33protruding upwardly from the part 2t) and adapted to extend through thebolt hole 29 in the connector part 21 and to be engaged by a nut 3d;there being a shoulder 35 presented at the juncture between the reducedportion 31 and the wider portion 33 of the stud and which shoulder isadapted to be screwed down firmly against the top of the connector part2t However, if desired, the equivalent of either of the studs 24 or 30may be provided by a threaded machine screw 36 (Fig. 12) which may beinserted downwardly through the hole 29 provided in connector part 21and its threaded end screwed into a threaded bore, such as 32, providedtherefor in connector part 20 and its head 3% screwed tightly downagainst the top surface of the connector part 21. Also, instead of theabove mentioned bolt means for securing the connector sections 2% and 21together, an ordinary bolt lli (Fig. 13) may be used for the purposewith its head 41 seated against the top surface of the connector part 21an its nut 42 screwed up against the undersurface of connector part 29.Also, if desired, two bolts or bolt studs with accommodating holestherefor in the connector sections may be used instead of only one boltor bolt stud, but this is unnecessary.

It will be apparent at once that, when the front portion of theconnector part 21 is placed over and parallel with the front part of theconnector part 2% the beveled undersurface of the part 21 will seat uponthe complementary beveled surfaces 23 of the connector part 29 and that,when the bolt means are tightened, the parts 20 and 21 are broughttogether tightly. The connector section 21 is preferably of materialsufiiciently resilient that, under the tightening force of the boltmeans, the beveled surfaces of section 21 will spread apart and willwipe over the beveled surfaces of section 26? and will clean off anyoxide that may be present on these surfaces, and at the same time willestablish resilient pressure of the beveled surfaces 28 against thebeveled surfaces 23. Thus, a clean and very intimate electrical andperrnanent contact between the surfaces 28 of the one connector part 21and the conducting surfaces 23 of the other connector part 2% isestablished and a contact which will not become loosened or impaired byshocks, vibrations or changes in temperature.

Instead of providing one or both of the connector elements 20 and 21with surfaces to which the ends of conductor cables may be electricallyfastened by welding or the like, either or both of the connector partsmay be provided with means for electrically clamping thereto anelectrical conductor such, for instance, as a threaded connecting tapstud S of an electric power transformer T, or the like. For instance, asshown in Figs. 8 to 11, one of the connector parts 45 is provided with aclamp having two Wings 4-6 and -57 adapted to be drawn together by meansof a bolt 48 which extends through holes 46 and 47 provided therefor inthe wings. The clamp presents a threaded bore 49 adapted to receive thethreaded end of a connecting tap stud of a tap panel or to receive thethreaded end of any other similar conductor. Needless to say, theseconnections should be made while the bolt 48 of the clamp is loose and,after the connecting stud has been screwed into the clamp, the nut 49 ofthe bolt 43 is tightened up so that the connection will not become looseor be adversely affected by shocks and vibrations created during therunning of the equipment in which the connection is present.

In order to increase the flexibility of the connector to meet differentconditions one of the connector sections may be so mounted on the othersection as to be longitudinally adjustable thereon; thus making theconnector adjustable in length. To this end, one of the connector parts,such as 21, Fig. 6, may be provided with a longitudinally elongated bolthole, 2% so that this section is longitudinally adjustable relatively tothe bolt and to the other section. With this construction it isadvisable to provide a washer, such as 50, which is disposed on theupper surface of the connector part 21 and has a bolt hole 51 inregistry over the slot 29. This washer may be formed with side flanges52 which extend downwardly along the sides of the connector section 21to hold the washer against turning.

Figure 1 shows connectors embodying this invention installed in anelectrical transformer T, some of said connectors 6 connecting twoelectric cables and other connectors 6' connecting an electric terminalstud. To connect two cables together, such as cables a and b, the end ofone cable, such as a, being welded to one section, such as 2t), of aconnector C and the end of the other cable, such as 12, being welded tothe other section 21 of the connector, the connector sections 20 and 21are then brought together and the section 21 placed upon the section 26so that the beveled surfaces 28 of the section 21 rest on the beveledsurfaces 23 of the section 26; and, then, the bolt means, of whichevertype the connector is supplied and equipped, are tightened up tight,thus completing the installation. A similar connector C is shownconnecting the cables 0 and d of the transformer, and another connectorC is shown connecting the cables e and f.

Where a conductor is to be connected to a terminal stud, such as a tappanel-stud S or to another terminal stud, such as S, a connector C ofwhich one section, such as 45 (see Figs. 8, 9, l0 and 11), is used. Toinstall the connector C, this section 45 is slipped over the threadedend of a stud S or S, and the end of the cable, such as a, g, h, i, j,k, or I, being welded to the other section 21 of the connector, thesection 21 is then placed upon and bolted tightly down on the connectorsection 45, in the manner previously described and after adjusting theparts, a clamp 4647 is clamped onto the stud by nut 49 and bolt 48.

From the above, it is apparent that, due to the simplicity of theconnector construction and the simple manner in which the connectorsections may be fastened together and may be separated, by relativelateral movement, an electrical connection between two conductors may beeasily and quickly established or disestablished, and that there is asuperior electrical conducting path through the connector due to thelarge area of and pressure contact between the contacting surfaces ofthe connector parts and their self cleaning of oxide or other foreignmatter. Also, it is apparent that, because of the smal sizes of theconnector parts and the ease and convenience of assembly, theinstallation of the connectors in relatively inaccessible spaces isfacilitated. Further, it is seen that the manner of fixing the connectorsections together maintains the sections in alignment and in such a waythat the alignment or their electrical contacting will not becomeimpaired or disturbed by vibrations, shocks, changes in temperature orother antagonistic forces. It is also apparent that the connectors maybe produced relatively easily, quickly and inexpensively.

As this invention may be included in many different embodiments of andmany changes may be made in the above stated construction withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention, it is understood that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

That which is claimed as new is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, an electrical connector of thecharacter described for heavy or high current usage including, incombination, two separable rectangular sections of relatively wide widthand of a thickness less than their width and each adapted to have anelectrical cable conductingly attached to one end portion thereofrespectively and adapted to have the wide surfaces of their other endportions brought into and out of lapping face-to-face contact byrelative lateral movement of said sections, bolt means for fasteningsaid sections projecting from the face of the lapping portion of one ofsaidvsections to extend through an aperture therefor in the lappingportion of said other section, one of said sections further having itslapping end formed with outwardly facing beveled surfaces along its sideedges and the other section having a pair of spaced flanges eachlaterally extending along one side edge portion of its lapping endportion respectively, the inner surfaces of said flanges being beveledcomplemental to the beveled surfaces of the said first section tocontact therewith by said lateral movement, said flanges being shapedand dimensioned so that the beveled surfaces thereof will wipe over thebeveled surfaces of the companion section to clean said surfaces, whensaid sections are forced together, to establish a good electricalcontact between said sections, and a nut threadable on said bolt meansfor forceably' moving said sections together and releasably clamping thesame in tight contacting face-toface relation so as to preclude theturning of either section about said bolt relative to the other section.

2. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidbeveled surfaces of said sections extend longitudinally of saidsections, and wherein the bolt means receiving aperture of one of saidsections is elongated substantially parallel with said beveled surfacesto render said sections longitudinally adjustable relative to said boltduring adjustment of said connector into position and prior to clampingsaid sections together by said nut and bolt means.

3. The subject-matter of claim 1 further characterized by the dimensionsof said flanges and their beveled surfaces being such that, wheninitially brought into contact with the beveled surfaces of the othersection, the opposing faces of the lapping ends of said section arespaced, whereby, when said beveled surfaces are forceably clampedtogether, they are held under a resilient pressure contact.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS613,663 Case Nov. 8, 1898 812,287 Nagel Feb. 13, 1906 1,467,651 PraxSept. 11, 1923 1,594,055 Filkins July 27, 1926 1,696,568 Fogel Dec. 25,1928 2,078,825 Wisner Apr. 27, 1937 2,274,422 Mahoney et al Feb. 24,1942 2,502,253 Fox Mar. 28, 1950 2,531,247 Batlle Nov. 21, 1950 FOREIGNPATENTS 13.731 Great Britain of 1913

